9. Hootie and His Women

In 2002, Augusta National confronted a public relations mess when the National Council of Women’s Organizations, led by Martha Burk, petitioned that the male-only membership of Augusta National was sexist. Burk and former Augusta National chairman William “Hootie” Johnson traded barbs and accusations.

Ultimately, Johnson settled Augusta National’s position by declaring the sovereignty of Augusta as a private institution that possesses the legal right to allow entrance to anyone it chooses regardless of how specific it chooses to be.

7. Mattiace Surge and Meltdown

Len Mattiace had one of the best Sunday surges in Masters memory. Mattiace entered Sunday at even par and erupted for a final-round 65 to equal Mike Weir at seven-under and force a playoff.

However, Mattiace’s meltdown on the first playoff hole was ugly and unexpected.

Despite lighting up Augusta National for 18 holes, Mattiace sent his tee shot into the trees and airmailed his par putt. He recorded a double-bogey on the first playoff, conceding the green jacket to Weir, who bogeyed the 73rd hole.

6. Zach Johnson’s Surge

Tiger Woods entered Sunday of the 2007 Masters one stroke off the lead. The expectation was that it was only a matter of time before Tiger put himself in position to grab the lead.

Well, he did, but for the first time ever Woods failed to win a major in which he shared or held the lead in the final round.

Woods’ slip, plus a meltdown by opening final-round leader Stuart Appleby, who shot 75 on Sunday, opened the door for Johnson. Johnson was at even par throughout the day before blitzing Augusta for three birdies over his final six holes. Johnson, who shot a third-round 76, shot a three-under-par in the final round and grabbed the green jacket.

5. Angel Cabrera’s Recovery

Angel Cabrera entered the final round of the 2009 Masters tied with Kenny Perry for the lead at 11-under. Chad Campbell’s 69 made it a three-way tie on the 18th hole.

However, it appeared Cabrera had played his way out of contention when he sent his tee shot into the woods. But Cabrera recovered with a fantastic up-and-down after his recovery shot from the woods smacked off a tree into the fairway. He parred the 72nd hole and clinched the green jacket on the second playoff hole.

4. Chris DiMarco’s Wild Weekend and Painful Finish

Chris DiMarco raced to 13 under par through the first 45 holes of the 2005 Masters. However, when the third round was suspended due to darkness, DiMarco’s game went dark as well.

When action restarted on Sunday and the third round ended, DiMarco found himself at eight under par and three strokes back of Tiger Woods.

The final round was supposed to be a coronation for Tiger. His three-stroke lead might as well have been 10 strokes to many.

However, DiMarco did not fade away and had a chance to win the Masters on the 72nd hole, but his chip shot hit the pin and deflected away. He shot a final-round 68 and pulled himself into a tie at 12-under to force a playoff with Tiger (who may not have been in this position had he not sunk his epic chip shot...).

But DiMarco could not hold off Tiger on the first playoff hole. Just like the 72nd hole, DiMarco shorted the green and watched Tiger land his approach shot within 15 feet of the cup. DiMarco had to sink the up and down, but Tiger coolly hit the Masters-winning birdie.

DiMarco was emotional in defeat and put his loss into a perspective we all understood.

"I went out and shot 68 around here on Sunday, which is a very good round, and 12-under is usually good enough to win. It was just that I was playing against Tiger Woods," he said.

3. Freddy Turns Back the Clock

Fred Couples made us all think "what could've been" when he finished two-under at the 2004 Masters, but only Ernie Els kept pace with Phil Mickelson that year.

Two years later, however, the then-46-year-old Couples had the golfing world behind his back. Couples shot three-under through the first three rounds and found himself one shot off Phil Mickelson entering the final round.

Couples had galleries roaring all over Augusta National that Sunday and he did all he could to stay in contention. He admirably shot a 71 on Sunday, but he could not keep pace with Mickelson and Tim Clark, who both shot 69. However, for one weekend Freddy had his last great moment under the Augusta sun.

2. Phil Gets His Green

Phil Mickelson's history of shortcomings in majors was well documented. Yet there was no denying Lefty at the 2004 Masters.

He was five off the pace after an opening-round even par, but Mickelson poured in three consecutive days of three-under-par play.

Most notably, Mickelson kept the surging Ernie Els at bay by shooting five-under on the back nine of Augusta. The shot of Mickelson jumping as he watched his championship putt drop is now an historic vision in Masters history.

1. Tiger’s Chip

It is quite possibly the best shot of the decade and Tiger Woods’ career, and without it Tiger may not have been in position to rip the green jacket away from Chris DiMarco in '05.

Tiger sized up a chip off the green that seemed to roll around the entire green before balancing on the lip of the cup and dropping in. It’s the highlight of all highlights of the last decade in Augusta.